Deshi frowned, fighting to blush as the other hauled him up and clapped him on his uninjured shoulder. "It was an accident. Was only trying to hide..." He murmured though he didn't think the other heard him as he already turned away to look at what had once been a mermaid. Looking around, he found a few crew members, but he didn't trust them, for all her knew they would do a shoddy patch up, leaving him worse than before. Shaking his head, he found a cluster of barrels, one of which he sat on and pulled out a thing of thread and a curved needle. He knew first aid and could take care of himself.

Threading the needle, he held it in his teeth as he quickly removed his top, then the make shift bandage, brushing his fingers against the open wound, hissing softly. It would need to be sown shut. Piercing his own skin, just under the wound, as the needle curved over the top of the wound, repeating the pattern along the line he'd made to dig the bullet out. Oh it hurt, but he didn't make a sound, and once he finished, he applied the bandages back again.

"Going?" Ryek's brow furrowed as he took insult to her words. "You have only just arrived." His grip on her tightened a bit when she tried to move away from him, he took a step back and pulled her towards him. "It would be so very rude for you to leave so very soon after just arriving." Ryek moved again, pulling the mermaid with him another few steps before he quite literally swept her off her feet. He turned to one of his men and spoke rapidly in french for a few moments before the man rushed off, and Ryek started towards his cabin.

Ryek's first mate rushed off once Ryek reached the door. The first mate going to take charge and shout out orders while the captain tended to his female guests. Such a lucky captain he was. Two beautiful women and one of them was a mermaid. Ryek loved mermaids. Shifting the mermaid a bit, he opened the door of his cabin, entered quickly and closed it behind him. He moved over to the bed and haphazardly dumped the mermaid their next to the oriental girl. "Such prizes I have won today." He took a step back, standing between the girls and the door. His arms crossed across his chest and he looked them both over. Appraising them it would seem.

Mei-Lein had been sleeping rather deeply, so it came as a shock to wake when a body bounced against hers and someone spoke. Prizes? She furrowed her brows and stood slowly, her gaze staying on the male. "Who are you and where are my sisters? You are going to return them to their husbands?" She asked, one hand moving behind her back as if to reach for a weapon.

Not that she didn't have a weapon there, the mermaid would see the small, slim lacquered handle of a small knife in the lower back of her robe. In all likelihood, in a fight, she'd lose. The pirate more than likely had more experience than her, and he had better upper body strength. She glanced around, hoping to find another exit besides the door, she wanted to get out.

Her sapphire eyes showed her obvious confusion when the man's grip tightened. Azaela was afterall a guest, and princess of the sea, she didn't want to be rude. "I guess," she began as she was lifted off her feet. Wow, that was kind of him, to carry her instead of make her walk, and what was that beautiful sounding language he was speaking now?

Azaela was certainly amazed by this human man, as well as his fondness of her and willingness to help her so. Unaware of his actual intentions she gave him no struggle or fight as she allowed him to carry her to, wherever they were going. Her long golden hair hung freely over his arm, swaying as he effortlessly carried her through a door and into a cabin of some sort. She had seen rooms like these in other sunken ships, there were always treasures to be found in them.

They neared the bed. Azaela smiled, she'd seen some of those too! Her smile quickly faded as she was dumped onto the bed next to another human. That hadn't seemed very nice. They had woken the human girl up. Azaela looked around for some prizes, what had he meant by that? She didn't seem to see anything too interesting lying near. The oriental woman stood, and seemed angry about some lost family. As her hand moved to reveal a small dagger, Azaela's eyes widened. She wasn't planning on harming that nice man was she? No, it didn't appear she was removing the weapon. But she had asked a good question... who exactly were any of these people?

Azaela stood too, but only out of curiosity as she walked towards the other side of the room to look for treasures, no longer paying any attention to the two humans in the room.

Ryek stood between the oriental woman and the door, his arms crossed across his chest. He looked rather formidable without even trying. "Your sisters are safe, in rooms below decks. They have been given food and water. I am sure they are quite comfortable." Ryek smiled gently. Of course by rooms he meant, they were locked in large steel cages built into the hull of the ship, just behind where all the cargo went. By food and water, he meant stale bread and water. "When we make landfall I shall see to it that they are brought safely to shore." Ryek glanced at the mermaid. She seemed harmless enough, and fascinated by trivial trinkets.

In Ryek's room there was a table set against the far wall, maps and charts and all sorts of navigational devices rested there. On the wall across from the bed was shelves liked with books, rolled up maps and sea charts and all manner of information about mythical sea creatures. He watched the mermaid only for a few moments, really there was nothing she could break, unless she decided to tear his carts in half. His attention returned to the oriental female. "Where are my manners? I am Ryek Le'Raux captain of this fine vessel. One of the fastest ships to ever sail the oceans." Obviously he was proud of his ship.

Name: Alston Bainbridge
Age: 26
Admiral Bainbridge of the British Navy is in search of the infamous Ryek Le'Raux. It wasn't long ago that Ryek crossed Alston by pillaging and sinking three of his best ships, consecutively, making off with all of their liquors, food, gold, silks, etc. that were being transported to the King and Queen. Being the youngest Fleet Admiral ever in the Navy, it made Alston look incredibly stupid, and now he is seeking Ryek's head. Ryek Le'Raux has been hunted and trailed for years by navies, armies and bounty hunters around the world, but Admiral Bainbridge will not give up until he has Ryek in shackles and locks him away for a very very long time, as his job depends on it.

The morning fog was finally lifting off the water as Admiral Alston Bainbridge barked orders from the deck of the Sovereign of the Seas. He had gotten word of a town that had recently been bombarded and pillaged by the Sea Demon himself, Ryek Le'Raux, and now he was headed hastily in that direction. They set their course and left port, a smile on Alston's face as they sailed the open seas. Today was the day, he knew, they would find the pirate Ryek.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Picking up little things here and there, shaking things, mashing around on them and setting them back down to move on to the next human treasure, Azaela thought momentarily of the scene from earlier in the morning. There had been an awful lot of death and blood in her ocean, but why? She only concluded that the other ship that had sunk was a bad ship and that this one was only trying to defend intself. There was no way this kind human man had done anything bad on purpous.

She was standing in front of a large table now, eyes scanning a large map with lines drawn across it and various 'x' marks. What was that, and what did it mean? It was certainly a beautiful drawing. Her eyes fell upon a compass as they widened, she had seen those before! Picking it up excitedly, she opened the top and watched the arrow spin around as she turned it and shook it around in her hands.

Smiling proudly, she made her way back to the two to show off what she had discovered, as the man introduced himself. Oh he was a captain! How exciting! "My name is Azaela," she said confidently, "My father is Poseidon, King of the seas," she added proudly. But her smile faded quickly, had she said too much already? Probably not, Ryek seemed like a very trustworthy and genuinely kind human man who would do her no harm. But then again, she had never met a human before, and would probably have awful judgement.

Not finding another, she let her arm fall to her side, plopping once more to the bed. "What do you intend on doing with us now?" She asked, one hand coming up to rub at her temple to ease the incoming large migraine. Too much had happened already, her sisters taken, best friend killed, ship sunk. Everything taken from her, and she'd never get to see her family again. That bothered her most, with her pulling one leg up on the bed so that she could hug it against her chest as tears slowly leaked from her eyes. This male, Captain Ryek, he seemed to her like a pirate. From what her father used to tell her, pirates were bad mean men, men who lied and cheated and stole what they wanted. "You are a pirate...Aren't you? You're not actually going to help my sisters..." She quietly accused, glaring at him.

Ryek's gaze flickered between the two women. The mermaid was a princess it seemed, and this oriental woman might as well be one too. He was certain he would get very high prices for just these two, not to mention would he was get for the other ladies down below. He licked his lips. "Azalea is such a lovely name for a lovely face." He smiled kindly to the mermaid, his eyes flickering to Mei-Lein. Amusement in his eyes as she spoke and called him a pirate. "Oh indeed, I am the best pirate to ever sail the seas. Though you probably should be more worried about yourself than you are about your sisters." Ryek kept himself strategically placed infront of the door, though it was locked and there was a man on the other side anyway.

Still standing there in her undergarments with the compass in her hand, Azaela watched the oriental woman as she spoke. Why was she so sad? When Ryek confirmed that he was a pirate, Azaela wondered what that meant exactly. "Thank you!" she said, smiling giddily, Azaela adored the comments. Being the mermaid she was, she would follow anyone to the ends of the earth if they complimented her daily and gave her shiny human things.

His next statement had her curious, what was it the oriental woman needed to worry about for herself? Was she sick? Azaela had turned her head to watch Ryek speak, when his outfit caught her attention. Reaching out, her fingers felt over the soft fabrics, another smile coming over her face. "It's so soft!" she exclaimed happily, now rubbing his arm with her entire hand. Under the ocean, they didn't wear clothing, and the ones they came across were never this nice.

((I shall post with Bain when the time is right :ninja:))

"Worry about myself? Why should I?" Mei-Lein glared, though she wasn't sure what to do now. What did this man want from her? From her sisters? It was obvious now that he wasn't going to help. With everything that had gone on, things were hopeless now. Mentally smacking herself, she nibbled on her bottom lip as she tried to think of a way to get out of the situation and save herself and her sisters. They had to reach the mainland, they were duty bound to.

"Your sisters will be treated nicely and when we get to the mainland, I'll set them off on their way." More like he would sell them off to slavers, slavers paid hefty coin for exotic things. The mermaid, and this girl Ryek had decided he would keep to himself. Both were very beautiful creatures. When Azalea reached out and touched his coat, Ryek grinned at her. She was a fascinating creature and her curiosity about things amused him greatly. He watched her rub along his arm for a few moments before he shrugged out his coat and gently draped it over Azalea's shoulders. "Consider it a gift, then, Princess of the Sea." A dashing smile was given to the mermaid, then that smile turned to the oriental girl. "Don't fret, my dear. I will treat you both very well. You are both my honored guests." Really, it was more like honored prisoners.

Eyes widening in excitement, Azaela grinned widely as the coat was placed around her shoulders. Being the princess she was, she knew composure was important, but it was taking a lot to keep herself from squealing with joy. She pushed her arms through the sleeves, feeling over it again, her wide grin never leaving her face. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, "but I could never take this from you." Her father would never allow her to keep human things, it would be such a waste to keep hidden. Besides, it would never feel this amazing in the ocean.

She would certainly return it, later. For now, she stuck the compass into the pocket, pleased to find a place to store the human treasures as she discovered them. She inhaled lightly at his last statement, honored guests? Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him, he truly was the kindest human she'd ever known. He was also the only human she'd ever known.

Maybe she could invite him to be an honored guest of the ocean, but was it possible? She reached up to feel the necklace she wore that held her magic. She had heard that a kiss from a mermaid would turn a human into a mermaid, but for how long? She knew it wouldn't last forever. But was it only a story? That she was unsure of. Either way, her father would never hear of it.

Azaela sighed, as the door caught her eye. What kinds of amazing and mystical human things lay beyond that door? She moved towards it, pulling at the handle. She knew how doors worked, all of the sunken ships had them, but this one was stuck. Frowning that she couldn't open it, Azaela looked back to Ryek as if to question how it worked. She wouldn't be able to stay much longer, and she wanted to see what other prizes the ship held before she had to leave. She sighed at the thought. She didn't really want to leave, this place was so exciting and Ryek was so nice.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Standing at the front of the ship, eyes scanning the ocean around, Bain spotted a small speck of a ship in the distance. Before he could even turn to inquire about it, a shout from the crow's nest confirmed his hopeful suspicions. It was indeed the Devil's Dream. Bain didn't jump for joy, smile, shout a hooray, nothing. Instead, he stared straight ahead with a deep frown, recalling what Ryek had caused him.

They were closing in, only thirty minutes or so now. Bain's brown hair was pulled back into a short pony tail, his blue and gold uniform pressed and clean. But his appearance should fool no one. He was no longer afraid of getting his hands dirty, or his coat stained, with the blood of Ryek. This thought finally brought a twisted smile to his face, only a short time now and Ryek's ship would be his, and Ryek in shackles.

((Sorry if it's crazy, lol. I'm SO distracted by this movie Riley's watching, "Cats Don't Dance". Lol))

She knew she should have been placated with his words, after all women weren't supposed to fight or chalange a man's decision. Women were objects to men, and she'd been raised knowing that one day she would only be a pretty bride for some other man that her father had picked out for her, a bargaining chip to strengthen the peace between her homeland and the British upperclass that were wanting to trade with her kin. She knew all this, but Mei-Lein was not known to bite her tongue or do as men told her to. She had a stubborn streak that even her father couldn't get rid of. The petite Asian sniffled even as she glared at the pirate. Oh she may have been his so-called 'honored guest', but she knew better than to think that he really would return her sisters. Pirates were notorious for not having any honor. She would do nothing now, she had protection for now from the rest of the crew, which probably wouldn't last if she killed the captian now. She would still try later to free her sisters.


Deshi sighed, arm no longer hurting as sharply once he'd sewn the wound closed. A dull throbbing was all that was left, but it was bearable. He'd just have to be careful not to do a lot of heavy lifting with that side. Standing to lean against the railing, he watched the easy with which these pirates worked together, shouting and talking in fluid french. Shaking his head, he headed toward the door he'd seen the captain go through, hoping that maybe he could talk the man into either turning around to let him go, or at least lending him a rowboat so he could get back. He had a few orphans that were depending on him. Looking up from his thoughts he spotted someone standing next to a door, looking just a little bored. "Where do I find the captain? I'd like to ask a favor." He asked softly, though knowing his request would be heard in the small space.

Ryek had no doubt in his mind that his asian princess would try to escape or at least free her sisters. But what could she really do while they were at sea, even if she did manage to let the women out of the hold. They certainly couldn't sail a ship this size, it required a full crew. He watched her for a few moments and then turned to Azalea when she moved to try and open the door. His lips parted to say something when there was a knock on the door followed by rapid French.

When Deshi approached, the man standing by the door regarded him for a few moments. When the boy spoke the man shrugged, then knocked on the door and spoke quickly in French. Ryek chuckled from the other side of the door, he slipped his hand into Azalea's and smiled at her. "Would you like to see more of my ship, dear?" He gave Mei-Lein a warning glance before quickly opening the door with ease. Only wide enough for him to slip through and gently pull the mermaid after him. Once they were out he closed the door tightly and locked it, said a few things in rapid French and then faced Deshi. "Ah. My little stowaway."

((Oh my gosh. So I just read back over my last post to see where I left off... and what are the odds that Riley is watching "Cats Don't Dance" again!? Lol she hasn't watched it since the day I posted here last! Weeiirrrd!))

Azaela gasped and took a step back from the door when someone knocked and spoke hastily in a language she didn't know. Her sapphire eyes looked to Ryek with a hint of confusion. Had she caused that to happen by tugging on the door? When he slipped his hand into hers and spoke, Azaela's heart jumped. "Yes! Please!" she said excitedly as her eyes lit up. She refrained from jumping up and down since she probably wasn't very good at something like that, it wasn't something she'd practiced. Plus it was childish, and although she felt like a child standing at the door of a candy store, she was indeed an adult, and a princess at that.

A wide grin remained on Azaela's face as Ryek opened the door, only to fade slightly when he pulled her through it and locked it up. Wasn't the other human coming? She quickly forgot about it when she noticed Deshi standing there. "You're ok!" she exclaimed with another smile. "I thought for sure you were going to drown," she paused for a moment as her smile faded. She recalled the minutes when human bodies littered the ocean between the two ships, dying her ocean a crimson red.

She frowned, thinking she knew what had happened but being very wrong. "Maybe if you hadn't attacked such a nice man, your friends would not have died," she said before turning up her nose at Deshi and crossing her arms in the over sized coat.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

The Sovereign was now closing in on the Devil's Dream and Ryek would surly have been notified of his arrival by now. Bain's men were ready. The Sovereign would pull next to the Dream and immediately throw over ropes and planks to board the ship. He had many skilled naval swordsmen ready to fight their way to Ryek and that's exactly what they planned to do.

As the ship pulled into place, Bain's mischievous smile returned. Today was the day. In the next moment, chaos broke out as his men began to board the ship. Sword in hand, Bain stood on the ledge of his ship as he reached out for a rope. He knew exactly where Ryek would be hiding and capturing him was Bain's only goal. He leaped from the ledge, swinging around feet first through the window of Ryek's cabin. A perfect maneuver.

Bain landed on his feet with his sword ready as his eyes darted around the room in search of Ryek who was no where to be found. Instead, he found a woman. Bain frowned at her. She didn't look to be pirate, but she was in Ryek's bed, so she must have been his wench. He approached her, sword still drawn to create a level of intimidation. "Tell me woman, where is your captain?"

((I hope I used wench right! Lol I've always wanted to say that word!))

Deshi frowned. Hadn't the male heard him before that he hadn't intentionally hidden on the boat? Shaking his head he grinned slightly at the mermaid, though it faded at her last sentence. "Those were not my friends. I was there because of an accident." He spoke firmly, but didn't think she'd believe him anyway, she seemed so painfully naive of people. Brushing his hand through his hair, he paused as he inhaled to start speaking to the captain, sounds catching his attention on the main deck. Grabbing the females hand he dragged her further down the hall to escape the chaos, knowing it'd be a bloody mess.


Mei-Lein ignored the warning glare, leveling one of her own to him as he left. Grabbing the dagger she'd thought about throwing at him earlier, she let it fly through the air to sink solidly into the door with a satisfying 'thunk'. Getting up and grabbing it, she put it back in its sheath at her back as she moved to look around. Poking and prodding at a few things before getting bored with it all and settling back on the bed to just wait when the sounds of fighting reached her ears. Why again? Why more bloodshed? She didn't understand it or like it.

Flinching and curling into a protective ball when someone crashed in through the window, brown eyes stared at this well dressed male in shock, then morphing into idignation. Her? The captian's wench? She'd rather die. "I have no idea where that kidnapping bastard went to." She snarled, though tried to make sure he could understand her english. If he was here, he could save her sisters. "Please, save my sisters though? We were on a merchant ship to England, to our arranged husbands, as part of some peace treaty agreement." She pleaded softly, hoping he would believe her.